Caribbean Law

              The CCJ as a Court of First instance for Intellectual Property; revisiting the idea. By Abiola Inniss                In January 2010 this column first proposed the idea of the CCJ as a court of First instance for intellectual property (IP) matters. In the years following its publication, there has been a little movement in the area of IP in the Caribbean including the common usage of the term Caribbean Intellectual Property which was also introduced through this column. There has been some growing attention to IP and some movement at the level of Caricom to create a Caribbean Patent Convention with the intention of harmonizing the Patent laws in those Caricom countries which become signatories to it. There are still some areas which remain unclear such as how disputes will be resolved quickly and efficiently and whether there would or should be a choice of forum for disputing parties.           It was the conclusion of this column in 2009 after considerable re

                       Some notes on the proposed Caribbean Patent Convention and Regional stasis   By Abiola Inniss              The creation of the Caribbean Patent Convention under the auspices of Caricom is a long awaited and most welcome development towards the harmonization of intellectual property laws in the region. Even more importantly, it is an indication that Caricom leadership has at long last, after a lengthy period of stagnation and indeterminacy, finally decided to engage the process of thought and action necessary for the promulgation of a legal and regulatory framework for Caribbean Intellectual Property. Perhaps cocktails are in order, but for whom? Should Caricom nationals celebrate in anticipation of the realization of a substantial catalyst for innovation and trade? Should international firms with an eye on the region rub their hands in glee? Should those who have publicly pressed for action on intellectual property rights breathe a sigh of rel